The Hacker's Encyclopedia 1998

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Table of Contents Congratulations...................................1 Your Ship.........................................2 Finding Your Way Around the Sunracer Cockpit......3 The Viewscreen 3 Engine Instrumentation 4 Combat Instrumentation 4 The Target Acquisition Computer (TAC) 6 Maneuvering in Space..............................8 Inertia 9 Docking with Bases 10 Collisions 11 Combat............................................12 Damage 12 Weapons 13 Defenses 16 Using the TAC in Combat 17 Surviving Combat 19 Navigating Within a Star System...................21 Travel Between Star Systems.......................24 Traveller's Recognition Guide.....................26 Planets 26 Ships 26 Hazards of Astrogation 38 A Traveller's Guide to the Far Arm................41 Facts and Fallacies 43 Base Facilities 44 Other Things to do at Bases 46 Playing Space Rogue...............................47 SUNRACER OWNER'S GUIDE AND NAVIGATION MANUAL Congratulations! When you bought this MANDENWORKS ship, you made a fine purchase! Your Sunracer scout ship embodies the research and manufacturing efforts of Mandenworks employees in 217 worlds throughout the Imperium. The Sunracer sets new standards for reliability, and can easily be customized to meet your specialized needs. Sunracers travel the space lanes, their holds laden with manufactured goods for the outposts and vital raw materials for the settled homeworlds. Sunracers travel the ancient Malir gates, crossing light-years of deep space in a breath. Sunracers even explore the remote frontiers of the Far Arm! Won't you take a few moments to review this Owner's Guide for your new Sunracer? [Page 1] Your Ship For nearly a decade the Mandenworks Sunracer-class model has been the Imperium's standard among the small, maneuverable ships of its class. With an extensive selection of options, four tons of cargo capacity, and easy upgrade abilities, the Sunracer is the choice of scouts, couriers, families, joyriders, and anyone looking for a small ship and a price to match. Class designation: Sunracer (scout) Length: 12 meters Displacement: 14 tons Armor: 300 units, upgradable (500 units maximum) Beam: Garnet laser (10 wm/ns) upgradable as option Missile: standard launch tube Shield(s): Forward-1, upgradable ECM: available as option Propulsion: Radonix cold fusion reactionless drive Acceleration: 0.20 G-standard (turbo booster upgrade available) Turn (o/sec): 45 Cargo pods: 4 (upgradable to 8) [Page 2] Finding Your Way Around the Sunracer Cockpit The Viewscreen Seated in the cockpit you can see a 90-degree field of view showing the depths of space. Actually, this is your ship computer's simulation of the view outside. All the stars, bases, asteroids, antimatter shards, and drifting interstellar grit are created by the computer to represent real objects detected by the ship sensors. With this simulation you can vary the view... quite an advantage over a mere porthole into space. Two alternate views are available. Cinematic view shows your ship travelling through space just as you might see it in a sensotheater. Novice pilots understand their maneuvers better when they see the effects on movement "cinematically". Chase view follows your ship at a distance, as though another ship were chasing you. [Page 3] Engine Instrumentation The left console contains engine instruments The bar graph shows your current speed; the longer the colored bar, the faster you are travelling. Beneath the bar graph is your speed in meters per second. A negative number means you are flying backwards. The letters "CF" or "NF" indicate whether you are in Cruise Flight or Newtonian Flight mode; see below. The number beneath the bar graph is your actual speed in Newtonian Flight mode. However, in Cruise Flight mode, it is your desired cruise setting. The bar graph shows your actual speed in either mode. Combat Instrumentation The right console contains combat instrumentation Ready Weapon On top, one of four symbols indicates your ship's ready weapon and its status. The symbols represent your beam weapon and three kinds of missiles. here are the weapon symbols: -* Beam Weapon O Plasma torpedo ==- SM-1 missile <<- Nova missile [Page 4] If your ship does not carry a given weapon, you will not see its symbol. Broken weapons have inverse symbols. These weapons are described in the Combat section of this manual. Armor Bar Graph The bar graph beneath the weapon status field graphically shows how much ship armor remains intact. The longer the colored bar, the more armor you have left. Traffic Display The three-space traffic light display indicates the status of up to three other ships in your sector of space. Each lit light corresponds to an active ship in your sector. The color of the lights shows their status. Green - The ship is friendly. Friendly ships typically hail you when they pass, as a courtesy. Violet - The ship is attacking another ship, not you. You may happen on a battle in progress, between a merchant and a pirate, for example. Orange - The ship is hostile to you and is attacking. Incoming Missile Warning Light The incoming missile warning light above the right console lights up when an enemy is tracking your ship. You can dodge with an abrupt maneuver just before it hits. [Page 5] The Target Acquisition Computer (TAC) The TAC screen is located in the center console, below the main viewscreen. It displays data collected by your Targer Acquisition Computer; a fifth generation system capable of discerning and tracking all targets in your sector. With its visual and data modes, you can locate and identify targets, get tactical readouts during combat, and coordinate weapon fire. You will find the TAC to be an indispensable tool for nacigation and combat. Selecting a Target When you activate the TAC, it searches for any targets ships, bases or Malir gates in your sector. If there is more than one target, the TAC will cycle from one target to the next with each key press. To help pinpoint your target's location, the TAC superimposes a "heads up" cross hair on your main viewscreen. The cross hair appears as two pairs of arrowheads, which slide along the edges of the viewscreen. If your target is dead ahead, the arrowheads will be centered on the viewscreen edges, and point inwards. As your target moves off to one side, the arrowheads will follow. If your target moves off the screen entirely, the arrowheads will flip to point outwards, and continue to track. Data Mode In data mode, the TAC screen displays vital information on your target. Depending on the type of target selected, 2 to 5 lines of data are displayed: 1st line - Class Name and ID beacon. The ship's official class type followed by a 3 letter/number unique ID beacon. Any messages transmitted by the ship will be preceded by this ID beacon. Warning: if this line is highlighted, this ship is attacking you! 2nd line - Range in Meters. The distance to the targeted ship in meters. Keep in mind that many ships have passive stealth devices that will render them invisible to the TAC beyond a range of about 10 km. The TAC will lose its lock on out-of-range ships and automatically disengage. [Page 6] 3rd line - Tactical Analysis. The AI module aboard your TAC continuously gathers telemetry data on your target. It them performs a sophisticated analysis on this data and determines the most likely tactic the ship is employing. 4th line - Armor Remaining. The amount of armor remaining on the ship. The hull will rupture when all the armor is destroyed, and the ship will perish. 5th line - Onboard Systems. Single letter abbreviations indicate which particular systems are installed onboard the ship. The six systems are: C = Countermeasures (ECM), F - Forward Shield, A - Aft Shield, E - Engine, B - Beam Weapon, M - Missile Launcher. A highlighted letter indicates that the system is damaged and non-functional. If you are targeting a base of Malir gate, only the first two lines are displayed. If you have no selected targer, the TAC gives you data on your Sunracer, with only the 1st, 4th and 5th lines shown. Visual Mode In Visual Mode, the TAC screen shows a close-up view of your target. This can be useful for identifying targets, and for determinding their orientation reletive to yourself. If you have no selected target, the TAC screen shows your Sunracer. [Page 7] Maneuvering in Space Your scout ship has two steering systems. In the more primitive mode, Newtonian Flight (NF), your engines are fixed to thrust your ship straight ahead. As long as you increase thrust, your velocity increases in the current direction. To change course, you must turn the ship and increase engine thrust as two separate actions. Turning your ship without adding thrust has no effect on your course. Newtonian Flight maneuvering is not recommended for novice pilots. Your ship's standard mode, Cruise Flight (CF), links the engines to the steering system. When you turn, powerful electromagnets redirect engine thrust to aid in the turn. In CF mode, thrust works as a cruise control. That is, you set the speed you desire, and the engines thrust until you reach that speed. When you change course, the engines thrust the ship in the ne direction, trying to keep a steady speed. Why wouldn't you always use Cruise Flight mode? Newtonian Flight is useful in strafing runs during combat, and in slingshot maneuvers around gravity wells - stars, planets, and black holes. To strafe, plot a fly-by course past your target in NF mode. As you pass, you can reorient the ship to keep the target in your viewscreen while still following the original fly-by course. In Cruise Flight mode, you would tend to ram your target instead. To slingshot around a gravity well, accelerate to a rapid speed on a Newtonian fly-by course close to the well. The slingshot effect as you leave the well can amplify your velocity tremendously - useful when you want to escape pursuit. (You can also put your ship into orbit around the well). Cruise Flight mode during a slingshot can result in undesirable braking. [Page 8] Inertia In CF mode the illusion of smooth, inertialess flight can be very convincing, especially at low speeds. However, Cruise Flight is subject to the same physical laws as Newtonian Flight. Foremost among these is inertia. The tendency to continue moving in a straight line affects every maneuver a pilot makes. The faster you move, the higher your inertia. At high velocity, your ship's controls may feel sluggish and slow to respond. Gradual turns swing wide, and sharp turns become impossible. There is norhing wrong with the controls! You simply must overcome a greater amount of inertia to change your heading. High-speed maneuvers are not recommended for novices. However, seasoned pilots develop a sense of inertia, and can actually use it to their advantage. [Page 9] Docking With Bases Your Sunracer is not equipped to land on planetary surfaces. Dock only in space, at one of the four regognized types of bases: starbases, outposts, mining stations and carriers. To dock your Sunracer at any base, simply nudge the base's docking platform with the nose of your ship. Automated docking equipment will take it from there. Be alert! Striking the wrong part of a base or docking at too high a speed may result in armor damage. Here are the docking platforms for each kind of base Starbase: The brightly lighted axial pillar that connects the two pyramidal halves. Outposts: The bright inner wall containing the black access door. Mining Station: Nudge any part of a mining atation to activate its docking equipment. [Page 10] Carrier: The main deck, marked by a landing stripe. These four base types are described in the "Traveller's Recognition Guide" later in this manual Collisions Your Sunracer's armor and forward shields are designed to absorb some damage from collisions with solid objects. Remember, though, that the damage your incur from collisions varies as the square of your velocity. In other words, if you hit an obstacle, your armor takes damage; if you hit the same obstacle going twice as fast (relative to it), you take four times as much damage as before! [Page 11] Combat Scouts must often venture into lawless areas. Your Sunracer in very capable of defending itself in unpleasant curcumstances. Always keep in mind that if your ship has more than one weapon system, you must choose one as your "ready weapon", using the ready weapon command. The dashboard ready weapon display symbolically shows which weapon is ready. Damage Damage from enemy fire is incurred to either your hull armor or to individual ships systems. Damaged ship systems appear on your dashboard readout in inverse letters. If the engine is damaged, your ship reverts to backup thrusters, and your acceleration is cut to one-quarter normal. If any ship system is damaged, that system becomes non- functional. Your current armor is shown on the dashboard readout and on the bar graph on the right console. If armor is reduced to zero, your ship is destroyed. [Page 12] Weapons Beam Weapons Laser and particle beams are the standard weapons of ship combat. They strike instantly, penetrate force shields well, and ammunition is both free and unlimited. Lasers come in three varieties, designated "garnet" (10 megawatts/second output); "beryl" (15 mw/s); and "sapphire" (20 mw/s). Despite the names, these are not optically-pumped solid lasers but mode-locked gas dynamic midels with opaque dye Q- switches. Your Sunracer sports a Taurietten garnet laser as standard equipment under full warranty. Particle beams are CMG (coherent monopole-guided) beams of heavy W particles. Like sapphire lasers, they are rated for 20 mw/s damage. However, unlike lasers, particle beams cut through defensive force shields without any reduction in cutting power. Recharging: All beam weapons run on self-contained batteries that are recharged from the ship's power plant. If you fire before the battery has recharged completely, your shots are reduved in strength. A short time without firing allows the battery to recharge completely. Near the beam weapon symbol on your dashboard's ready weapon display is a circular indicator. Its size shows the current recharge status. The circle begins at full size; heavy fire reduces it to hald size, and then one-quarter size. This shows that the beam weapon is firing at hald or quarter power. [Page 13] Manual and automatic fire: Beside the recharge circle on the ready weapon display is a letter "M". This stands for "manual fire". You fire each shot manually. Though not widely available in most areas, automatic lock-on and firing equipment changes the letter to "A" for "automatic fire". With this equipment you simply start the firing sequence, and the ship fires every two seconds. You can even change ready weapons and fire a missile while the beams contine firing. Missiles Unlike beam weapons, missiles are expensive. Targets can jam their telemetry or dodge them. And once you fire one, it's gone. But nothing else matches their ability to inflict damage on the enemy. Your ship includes one standard missile-launch tube with automatic reloading. It can hold a mix of up to 10 missiles or 20 plasma torpedoes. If the missile system is damaged, you cannot launch. Reloading after a shot takes five seconds. When the tube is ready to fire again, the ready light glows green in the center of your dashboard's ready weapon display. [Page 14] Missiles accelerate at 2G standard, and carry 30 seconds worth of fuel. There are three types of missiles available for your Sunracer: Plasma torpedoes, balls of superheated gas, inflict a rated equivalent of 75 megawatts of damage on a target. Plasma torps are cheap and compact, but they are not true missiles. Rather, they are dumb weapons without heat-seaking ability. ,//, (C@D)<====------- `\\' The SM-1, for "Standard Missile 1" inflict 100 mw of damage. These have heat-seaking ability, and target whatever enemy you have acquired with the TAC. See "Using the TAC in Combat" below. __ ___,----,_\ \_ (___------_---|] `----' /_/ Nova missiles, extremely deadly nuclear-tipped heat-seekers, inflict 250 mw of damage. Like the SM-1, the Nova zeroes in on whatever target you have selected with the TAC. __ ,-/-,_,----,_\ \_ ( |* _------_---|] `-\-' `----' /_/ [Page 15] Defenses Armor Armor, standardized on all ships as sloped superconducting ceramic, spreads collision and energy damage equally throughout its structure. Therefore, each ship's armor is numerically rated in standard units of protection. Armor is affixed in individual plates. The Sunracer comes with four plates (300 units) standard. Optional upgrades are available. Force Shields Force Shields reduce damage from collisions and, less effectively, from lasers. Originally designed to cope with navigational hazards such as asteroids, shields work best against collision with physical objects such as asteroids and missiles. Against lasers their effectiveness drops by one class. Against particle beams they have no effect. Force shields are numerically rated according to their ability to reduce damage to your armor. Shield #1 stops 1/2 of incoming damage; #2 stops 3/4; and #3 stops 7/8 damage. Shields cover half of the spacecraft, and so are described as either "forward" or "aft". ECM ECM (electronic countermeasures) uses X-ray cathode technology to jam the enemy's targetting devices. Put mre directly, it interferes with the ability of heat-seeking missiles to target your ship. ECM, rated by its percentage of effectiveness, is available in three levels: 25%, 50%, and 75%. The percentage indicates the ECM's chance to jam the missile and send if off on an eratic course. If the ECM failes, the missile targets you normally. Note that ECM does not reduce damage from hits. [Page 16] Using the TAC in Combat You'll find the Target Acquisition Computer a great ally when you enter combat. It not only provides vital data for making tactical decisions, but also coordinates the targeting and firing of your weapon systems. Data Mode In Data Mode the TAC displays several key pieces of information which can aid in your tactical decision making. The Tactical Analysis (3rd line) provides an assessment of your target's intent. Extensive combat studies have proven the TAC to be 99.8% accurate, so don't hesitate to rely on its judgement. The TAC characterizes an enemy's intent as one of the following 10 tactics: Circle - The enemy is circling around you trying to stay out of your arc of fire. Counter by circling behing the enemy. Close - The enemy if making quick fly-bys designed to offer good, close shots. Fast ships often favour this tactic. Try to get your shots in just after the enemy passes. Cruise - Your TAC displays this "tactic" for any ship not engaged in combat. Elude - The enemy is accelerating and turning away from your field of fire. Plot an entercept course - try to head him off. Flee - A running, zigzag course. The enemy has broken morale and is attempting to escape. You'll have to fly fast to catch him. Follow - The enemy mimics your maneuvers. This tactic is only effective if the enemy gets behind you. Persue - The enemy is trying to catch you as quickly as possible. If you don't want to be persued, don't try to run away. Ram - Prepare for collision! Stand - The enemy stops and faces you. Big ships often do this just before they launch an attack. Swerve - An erratic, high speed maneuver that is designed to avoid a collision or weapon fire. Don't waste missiles trying to hit a swerving ship. Just stay at a distance and keep him in your sights. [Page 17] The Armor Remaining display (4th line) is a prime indicator of an enemy's battle worthiness. When this drops below zero, the hull ruptures, and the ship will perish. Most ships will try to flee when this nears zero. When you hit a ship with a missile or beam weapon, note how much damage it takes. This will give you a feel for the effectiveness of various weapons against shielded and unshielded targets. The Onboard Systems display (5th line) reveals what functioning systems the enemy can bring to bear. Monitoring this display offers great tactical insight. For instance, if the enemy's engines are damaged, he won't be able to pull hard-G maneuvers; if his ECM or shields are damaged, he'll be vulnerable to missile attacks; if his weapons are damaged, you've pulled his teeth. [Page 18] Weapon Fire Coordination Your TAC coordinates weapons fire to hit your selected target. For smart missiles (SM-1 and NOVA), the TAC provides thr heat signature of your target. For beam weapons, the TAC checks for a clear, line-of-sight path to your target. If the target lies out of the path, is too far away, or is blocked by another object, your TAC will stop the beam weapon from firing. This prevents needless discharging of the beam weapon's batteries (and embarrassing attacks on friendly ships that fly unexpectedly in your path). Under certain conditions you may find it advantageous to disengage your TAC. For instance, if your target has powerful ECM, it will likely jam your smart missiles. However, if you launch a smart missile with your TAC disengaged, the missile will act as an unjammable, dumb missile. Aim well and it will always hit. Surviving Combat Do not pick fights recklessly! Not only can this incur severe damage, it also affects your reputation. Unlawful battle can bring police retribution and the attention of bounty hunters. If you do enter combat, remember several points that are essential to your ship's safety. Standing still is deadly. It simplifies your targeting, but unfortunately it also simplifies the enemy's. The veteran pilot keeps maneuvering at all times. Some specific combat maneuvers that have proven useful include all the tactics the opponents use, as displayed on your TAC. In addition, you may create your own. For example, consider "overshooting". When an enemy is persuing, reverse thrust rapidly. The opponent often flies on by, presenting a clear target profile. If there is terrain in your sector, use it! You can hide behind asteroids; draw your enemy into collisions with antimatter shards; you can even slingshot around stars or planets to put on extra speed for escape or persuit. [Page 19] If your target has shields, try to knock them down with beam weapons. Then go in for the kill with missiles. Beam weapons can penerate an opponent's shields more effectively, increasing your chance to knock out a critical system. If the opponent proves too dangerous, try to escape. If you can get ten kilometers away from your enemy, his sensors will no longer be able to detect you, and he must break off pursuit. You can improve your escape speed by jettisoning cargo. A full hold reduces your acceleration dramatically, so in desperate circumstances you can empty cargo bay contents into space and make a quick getaway. As a last resort, you can try to surrender. After a standard radio call of surrender, pirate and merchant ships may plunder your cargo in return for your life. Imperial ships require you to pay off your bounty. [Page 20] Navigating Within a Star System Navigation Control is the only way to travel the long distances between bases; to view the layout of star systems; and to review the status of your ship. Navigation Control also gives an overview of the system you occupy, shows the locations of the Malir gates used to travel between systems, and tells the date and time. Unlike the cockpit viewscreen, Navigation Control does not show you a first-person view of your surroundings. The Navigation Control screen shows, at upper left, a part of the system you currently occupy, with your ship in the middle. Each system is subdivided into 1024 sectors in a 32x32 grid. Each sector is 1,000,000 kilometers on a side. Sectors are marked on the map with a grid of dots. The map is not a simple record, but an electronic database that is constantly updated. As you journey across space, your ship moves to its new position on the map. Note how the system's planets move along their orbits with the passage of time. [Page 21] When you encounter another ship in a sector, Navigation Control alerts you with a status message at the bottom of the panel. At upper right are the commands you can give, as follows: Chart lets you chart a course anywhere in the system. When you select this command, brackets appear around the current sector. Using the keyboard or joystick, move the brackets to the destination sector. The computer lats in the course along the most direct route. Helm is only available after you have charted a course. Select the Helm command to embark on the journey via autopilot. The Navigation Control screen shows the time at each stage of the journey. Press a key to stop the journey in the current sector. If you come under attack in a sector, your journey will be halted automatically. You will only be able to resume your journey after you have resolved the battle. In autopilot mode your Sunracer safely navigates the hazards of space - asteroids, antimatter shards, and so on. Be aware, however, that your autopilot requires much more time to safely navigate a these hazards (particularly if your engines are damaged). A straight course through hazards is not always the shortest one. For more about these hazards, see later sections. Status shows your possessions; your reputation with the Imperium, pirates, and Manchi, based on monitoring of radio traffic; and your ship's weaponry, armor, equipment, and state of repair. [Page 22] Query retrieves data, when available, about a given sector: bases, significant hazards, even choice bits of lore or history. Scan lets you see other parts of the system. When you select this command, brackets appear around your current sector. Move the brackets around the map; new areas scroll onscreen. You can choose a sector and then Query for data about it. Cockpit returns you to the viewscreen. [Page 23] Travel Between Star Systems Warp drive has yet to be invented. All spacecraft must travel at sub-light speeds. Therefore, crossing the empty gulfs between systems would take months or years. How fortunate then, that the ancient Malir gates link Imperial systems through wormholes. Each part of gates connects two star systems. Your Navigation Control database shows each system's Malir gate(s). Your Sunracer has been approved by Imperial authorities for travel through all known interstellar Malir gates. When using one of these teleportation devices, keep several safety tips in mind. [Page 24] 1. Known sentient beings that can use the Malir gates without harmful effects include humans, Baakili, Sishaz-ahng, doven, Braunigala, and ssathlar. When some other sentient races, such as the Manchi, use the gates, they invariably die. 2. The gates are long, hollow cylinders. Pilot your ship down the center of the cylinder towards the glowing end. You must achieve a minimum speed of 21 m/sec to activate the gate's wormhole effect. 3. Once within the wormhole, remain within the glowing rings. When you reach the end of the wormhole, you will be dropped back into normal space by the Malir gate at the destination system. Should you stray outside the wormhole before you reach your goal, the jump is faulty and you reappear at the gate of origin. 4. Move through the wormhole as quickly as possible. corrosive gasseswithin the hole damage all known classes of hull armor. Imperial researchers have devised the null damper to counteract this effect. However, for tariff reasons null dampers are not abailable in some parts of known space. Check with your Madenworks dealer (read: the black market) for more information. [Page 25] Traveller's Recognition Guide Madenworks offers this handy guide to the objects you may encounter in spave. Each entry shows the screen symbol that represents the object in your viewscreen sumulation or Navigation Control system maps. Planets There are three principal types of planets you may encounter. Warning: Do not try to pilot your Sunracer into a planetary atmosphere. The ship is not equipped for planetary exploration, and will burn up due to air resistance and the heat of friction. Ships As spave travel increases in popularity, the traveller encounters more vehicles every day. For your safety and convenience, this section describes some of the most widespread types of ships. Abbrevations used: m = meter; t = ton; mw/s = megawatts per second; Fwd = foward; o/sec = degrees per second; g = gravities (standard units of acceleration). [Page 26] Titan Type: Imperial Class designation: Heavy cruiser Predominant color: Green Length: 95 m Displacement: 2,232 t Armor: 1,000 Beam: particle (20 mw/s), turreted Missile: Nova Shield(s): Fwd - 3; Aft - 3 ECM: 50% Propulsion: Imp. Shipyards positron drive Acceleration: 0.15 g Turn (o/sec): 10 The glory of the Imperial fleet, the Titan-class cruiser reduces piracy in a system by its mere presence. Titans lack nothing in state-of-the-art armaments and defenses. [Page 27] Tanker Type: Merchant Class designation: Trader (50t capacity) Predominant Color: Blue Length: 45 m Displacement: 371 t Armor: 360 Beam: Beryl laser (15 mw/s), turreted Missile: SM-1 Shield(s): Fwd - 1, Aft - 2 ECM: 20% Propulsion: varies Acceleration: 0.20 g Turn (o/sec): 15 The vehicle of choice for the prosperous trader, this sturdy model emphasizes cargo capacity but does not neglect defense. Though not flashy, a Tanker fusing skillful defense tactics can often send a more maneuverable Dart packing. [Page 28] Cruiser Type: Imperial Class designation: Light Cruiser Predominant color: Green Length: 50 m Displacement: 479 t Armor: 435 Beam: sapphire laser (20 mw/s), turreted Missile: SM-1 Shield(s): Fwd - 3, Aft - 2 ECM: 30% Propulsion: 5 Radonix MEGA reactors Acceleration: 0.30 g Turn (o/sec): 25 Whereas Titans patrol the lawless frontiers of space, Imperial cruisers customarily anchor support fleets in settled systems. However, heavy pirate activity can draw cruisers into deep space. They are a match for any pirate vessel. [Page 29] Corsair Type: Pirate Class designation: Light Cruiser Predominant color: Orange Length: 48 m Displacement: 434 t Armor: 405 Beam: Beryl laser (15 mw/s), turreted Missile: SM-1 Shield(s): Fwd - 2, Aft - 2 ECM: 25% Propulsion: 5 Radonix MEGA reactors Acceleration: 0.30 g Turn (o/sec): 30 Still extremely dangerous after more than two decades of service, the Corsair model remains popular along the frontier and in lawless areas. Facing a hostile Corsair, your best tactic is to surrender your cargo and hope the pilot is in a friendly mood. [Page 30] Scow Type: Merchant Class designation: Trader (10 t capacity) Predominant color: Blue Length: 23 m Displacement: 74 t Armor: 210 Beam: Garnet laser (10 mw/s), turreted Shield(s): Aft - 1 ECM: -- Propulsion: varies widely Acceleration: 0.25 g (varies) Turn (o/sec): 20 More of these dependable workers travel the spaceways than any other ship type. Scows place cargo capacity above all else. [Page 31] Dart Type: Pirate Class designation: Fighter Predominant color: Orange Length: 12 m Displacement: 16 t Armor: 245 Beam: Garnet laser (10 mw/s) Missile: SM-1 Shield(s): Fwd - 2 ECM: 10% Propulsion: Borelle High Performance Acceleration: 0.30 g Turn (o/sec): 45 A ship for pirates on a budget - no interior comforts, but it sports a highly-tuned engine and astounding maneuverability. In combat with a Dart, fly an erratic course and try to wear down its armor. [Page 32] Hunter Type: Independant Class designation: Fighter Predominant color: Green Length: 21 m Displacement: 90 t Armor: 350 Beam: Particle (20 mw/s) Missile: SM-1 Shield(s): Fwd - 3, Propulsion: 3 Radonix MEGA reactors Acceleration: 0.31 g Turn (o/sec): 40 With their particle beams and Fwd-3 shields, Hunters are efficient killers. A favorite of bounty hunters, they are often found prowling the lawless regions for prey. [Page 33] Not all ships you meet belong to the Imperium. The hostile aliens called the Manchi pilot ships of bizarre design. By request of the Imperial admiralty, Madenworks offers what is known about these aliens' principal ship types. Vulture Type: Manchi Class designation: Light Cruiser Predominant color: Violet Length: 49 m (est.) Displacement: 456 t (est.) Armor: 480 (est.) Beam: sapphire laser (20 mw/s) Missile: Plasma torpedo Shield(s): Fwd - 2, Aft - 1 (est.) ECM: -- Propulsion: Unknown Acceleration: 0.30 g Turn (o/sec): 25 In every encounter with Imperial ships, Manchi Vultures have attacked to kill, given no quarter, and have never accepted surrender. Exercise extreme caution. [Page 34] Wasp Type: Manchi Class designation: Fighter Predominant color: Violet Length: 11 m Displacement: 13 t Armor: 180 (est.) Beam: Beryl laser (15 mw/s) Missile: Plasma Torpedo Shield(s): -- ECM: -- Propulsion: Unknown Acceleration: 0.45 g Turn (o/sec): 50 These incredibly fast and maneuverable fighters appear to double as scouts, for they are often found deep inside Imperial space without evident support craft. Pilots often display suicidal attack tactics. [Page 35] Bases The life's blood of all star travellers, bases provide protection, repair facilities, trading posts, and a friendly cantina. Only at bases can you meet people, get your ship repaired, or purchase new equipment and cargo. There are four principal types of bases: Starbases are the Imperium's grandest achievements, full cities in space that can supply all of a traveller's needs. Each starbase is the work of generations, and each draws the finest pilots and most desirable trade goods in known space. Unlike other bases, Imperial starbases routinely check incoming ships for contraband cargo. Any contraband discovered is immediately confiscated. Outposts are centers of commerce for systems that have not yet constructed a starbase. They offer no-frills service for the traveller's immediate needs. [Page 36] Mining stations --solitary frontier depots -- pioneer new sections of space and supply civilization with vital raw materials. Many mineral-rich planetoids host these rugged commercial stations. They are usually operated by gigantic megacorporations such as MiCon or ConVec. The new Imperial carrier serves as a platform for an entire squadron of the Imperial fleet. It provides police protection and asserts civilized authority in lawless areas. Private ships may dock at carriers for security, supplies, and repairs. [Page 37] The first of these amazing new bases, the Koth, is named for the heroic admiral who led the Imperium to victory in the Battle of Binary Stars. It is stationed in the Arcturus system in the Far Arm. Other carriers are under construction. Hazards of Astrogation The pilot can encounter many hazards in the wilds of deep space. Some, such as pirates, can be fought. Others are natural and can only be avoided. Natural hazards are summarized below. Antimatter shard fields form deadly obstacles. Antimatter atoms carry electric charges oppsite to those of conventional matter. When matter and antimatter meet, the charges cancel out exposively, destroying both. Conventional force shields provide little protection against antimatter shards. The only safe tactic is to avoid them through slow and painstaking piloting. [Page 38] Asteroids are small boulders or ice chunks. Your ship's shield provides effective protection against collision with an asteroid, so long as you travel slowly. Black holes are the invisible remnants of massive stars. A black hole's gravity is so strong that no ship - in fact, not even light - an escape its fatal pull. Known black holes are noted in your ship's database. However, throrists believe there may be many more uncharted black holes, so beware. Ion storms, dangerous clouds of charged particles, form from whorls in turbulent strllar winds. Traders sometimes report spoilage of cargo due to ionization. Nebulae are clouds of interstellar gas and dust. They slow ship passage and therefore increase travel time. Some nebulae gases are corrosive, and can eat away at your ship's hull armor. Sould your destination lie within a hazard field, consider travelling elsewhere for a time. Some destinations, such as planets, may orbit out of the field with the passage of time. [Page 39] A TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO THE FAR ARM THANK YOU for purchasing this spacecraft at a Far Arm dealership! Merchants of the Far Arm count on your support to push back our expanding frontier. And in return, you can count on the same top- quality service and attendion to detail offered in the busiest sectors of the Imperial Arm. In the 2300-year history of the Imperium, the Far Arm is a newcomer to the galactic stage. Our small but durable net of Malir gates was discovered hardly a century ago. As late as 2217 the exploration ship Leading Edge crashed in an ion storm in the Sigure system, its fate unknown until a generation later. Though colonization proceeded over the next century, the sleepy Far Arm attracted little attention until the ill-advised Rebellion, an abortive uprising be seedy frontiersmen in the Gryphon system. The Imperium crushed these scoundrels at the famed Battle of Binary Stars in 2303. For his heroism is this battle, Imperial Admiral Koth received the Golden Sunburst of Valor, the only living person so honored. The Far Arm's path to Imperial acceptance began when Emperor Hiathra assigned our Deneb System to Duchess Avenstar. No one could have envied the youg Duchess her task of cleaning up the rowdiest system in the Galaxy. But to the critics' surprise, Avenstar has turned Deneb into one of the shining spots of the Far Arm, a safe harbor and prosperous home for any citizen. [Page 41] Today the Far Arm is home to a dozen thriving bases in eight systems. The Far Arm is represented in the 100-member Ruling Council on the Imperial homeworld. Multi-system corporations like MiCon and ConVec co-exist peacefully with independant operators on Ross, Lagrange, and Trochal. All supply the raw materials that make possible YOUR standard of living! While you travel the Far Arm, be sure to stop and visit these exciting systems, all conveniently connected to the reliable network of Malir gates. Karonus: Site of magnificent Hiathra Starbase and the historic MiCon I mining station. Piracy has been virtually wiped out in this sector. Deneb: Impressive Denebprime Starbase is the home of Duchess Avenstar. Piracy has been much reduced under her wise rule. Gryphon: ConVec East mining station welcomes all miners, mineralogists, and tourists. See the deepspace monument commemorating the Battle of Binary Stars. Arcturus: MiCon II mining station awaits the visitor with a taste for industrial technology. At this writing, Arcturus hosts the Imperium's fabulus carrier Koth, newest addition to the fleet and a shining symbol of the rule of law in the Far Arm. Nar'see: Lagrange mining colony produces the finest titanium in the galaxy. Nar'see fields of antimatter shards have attracted much attention in popular entertainment; but space is a big place, so they're easy to avoid! Bassruti: The Free Guild Independent Outpost experiments with new social attitudes towards taxation and authority. Meanwhile, the advanced Bassruti Genetics Research Center is making exciting new discoveries about the nature of life. Sigure: Trochal Independent Outpost stalwartly holds down the frontier against Manchi incursions. Piracy is no longer a significant problem. Zed: The MiCon IV outpost is a proud to announce that the distinguidhed gravitation physicist Zoriah Prosk is pursuing further research breakthroughs in its laboratories. Another sign that the Far Arm is attracting the movers and shakers of the Imperium! [Page 42] FACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT THE FAR ARM Our home has attracted attention throughout the Imperium, both in action-adventure entertainment and, sadly, in the news of the MiCon III tragedy. As you visit the far Arm, take this opportunity to get the facts! 1. The Imperial government extends across the Far Arm. As governing body, defense force, and police power, the Imperium retains authority in all systems. So-called "lawless areas" are fiction. Of course, any traveller in deep space takes certain risks. But deep space can be risky in the Imperial Arm itself! The Imperial bounty system instituted by Duchess Avenstar has produced a significant reduction in crime. By this system, a lawbreaker incurs a bounty for each misdeed. This gives incentive for the Far Arm's clever and well-armed bounty hunters to pursue and punish the wrongdoer. A criminal can also visit any Imperial starbase and pay off his bounty, which (after processing fees are deducted) goes into a restitution fund for victims. 2. The Scarlet Brotherhood are not pirates. This guild of free traders believes in the conduct of trade without onerous gobernment restraints. Past incidents of substandard behavior no longer represent the Brotherhood's methods. Piracy has decreased every year since the failed rebellion of 2303. 3. There is no "Black Hand". We enjoy the action stories about this supposed cult of "psychic assassins" as much as the next sentient being. But believe us, no one in the Far Arm can kill you at a touch, hypnotize you at a distance, or drive you crazy by looking at you. We can all rest more easily for that! 4. The Manchi threat is under control. <right!> The Far Arm's proximity to Manchi space should not worry tourists. No Malir gate connects their territories to ours, so Manchi ships can reach only the most distant worlds, and only in small numbers. Imperial police are well able to protect citizens from these mindless insects. Do not let Manchi hostility color your attitudes [Page 43] towards the many other valued and trusted sentient races found throughout the Far Arm. By and large these nonhuman races engage in honest trade, in material goods and, in the case of the Baakili Far Traders, information. Treat them well and they treat you the same way. Base Facilities Because travellers speak different languages or percieve in different bands of the spectrum, bases use a uniform code of symbols to designate facilities. Repair _ \`, (\HH )HHHHHHH `--, `HHHHHH HHHH, `HHHH HHHHHH, `HH HHHHHHHHHHH A wrench indicates a repair station. Move up to the counter, in front of the friendly staffer on duty, and ask about repairs or supplies. If you ask for supplies, the staffer gives a price list of your ship automatically while you are on base. If you ask for repairs to your armor or ship systems, the staffer provides a speedy cost estimate according to how much damage you would like repaired. If you pay the fee, the repairs will be performed automatically while you are on base. Remember: It's always cheaper to repair than to replace! Trade __ __ _|H__H|__ ,HHHHHHHHH |HH_ __ __ `HH HH HH, ________HH| HHHHHHHHH' |H H| A "$" symbol (family crest of the legendary trader Igon Stowellon, whose exploits spawned much folklore) indicates a trading post. The easiest and most widespread method of income in the Far Arm, trade offers beginning spacefarers the opportunity to visit many systems and serve the Far Arm community. Move up to the counter in front of the friendly trader and ask to buy or sell merchandise. [Page 44] If you ask to buy, the trader gives you a manifest of cargo available for purchase. All goods are sold in convenient one-ton shipping containers. For raw materials like minerals or agriproducts, the weight is simple bulk; for high technology items or luxery goods, much of the weight is taken by frameworks, padding, and shield generators to prevent damage in transit. If you ask to sell, the trader makes an offer on the cargo in each of your holds. Outfitting |\ ,HH`--,____ |HHHHHHHHHH> `HH,--' |/ Look for the rocket symbol to find an outfitter, a dependable supplier of weapon and defense systems, engine upgrades, and a wide selection of equipment for that special need. Whether you want an armor upgrade, a spare cargo pod or a turbo thruster, just go up and ask your friendly Far Arm merchant. And remember, installation is free! Cantina In these convivial taverns and eateries, travellers from every sector of space converge for good fellowship and conversation. You might run into anyone from an Imperial captain to a Baakili far Trader. [Page 45] Other Things To Do At Bases On bases, you can talk to anyone. When you respond to a remark, the responses you can make appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the one you want. The conversation continues bases on that selection, and it may offer you further responses. You can examine or take items, or even pick the locks on locked doors or safes. (The Far Arm Amalgamated Chambers of Commerce do not endorse theft or illegal entry; this is mentioned for informational purposes only.) You can get a list of your current possessions, the condition of your ship, and your reputation with various factions in the Far Arm. To leave a base, move next to your ship's hatch and enter. Your ship leaves the base automatically. You're ready to head elsewhere in the exciting, enchanting Far Arm! [Page 46] Playing Space Rogue WHAT YOU DO IN THIS GAME Space Rogue is not just a spaceflight combat simulator it's a role playing game. In the role of a space pilot you do lots of different things besides fly your ship. You must persue a career to generate income, so you can undertake long-range goals beyond your immediate mission. Talk to everyone you meet. Some will offer you missions. Many have information you need to survive. You have a reputation in the Far Arm, and what you do in the game affects it. For example, if you come across a space combat between a merchant and a pirate, you can get involved on one side or the other, and that affects your reputation with both merchants and pirates. Your personnel status screen shows your standings with the Imperium, the Merchant Guild, and the pirates. These standings directly reflect your dealings with these organizations and affect your ability to travel peacefully in space, to gain the aid of others, and therefore to achieve your goals in the game. Repute is your reputation as a combat pilot. Each victory in combat increases your repute; however, as your repute grows, it takes progressively more (and more spectacular) kills to further increase your repute. Repute also governs the liklihood that an opponent will break morale and flee from combat. What Direction to Take As the game begins, you have no clear goal. But the Far Arm offers many career opportunities. You can pursue any or all of the following activities. Trading. This is the easiest way to make money and the best way to get started in the game. Luxery and high-tech goods are cheap at Karonus, whereas raw materials are expensive. In the distant systems, just the opposite is true. You can exploit the differences to make credits. See what cargo is available. [Page 47] Be wary of combining radically different kinds of cargo, as some types have unusual effects on others. Some kinds of cargo are also perishable; make sure you sell them quickly. Piracy. Raiding merchant ships is lucrative, and they usually surrender rather than fight to the death. However, piracy brings a bounty to your head, and the bounty hunters will descend in force unless you pay off the bounty at a starbase. You need a fast, well-equipped ship for this roguish life. Bounty hunting. Search for and destroy pirate ships to collect Imperial bounties. This is profitable but extremely dangerous. Only the best-equipped ships try bounting hunting. If you persue these activities, explore known space, and talk to everyone you meet, you will eventually find a clear goal. You can achieve that goal while following any career. But your methods will vary according to whether you are a trader, pirate, or bounty hunter. Good luck! [Page 48]